The Crystal Harvester consists of a forward rover section and a generator trailer section.

The forward rover transports the Harvester/Loader, which is used for collecting the all-important crystals.

The generator trailer houses the generator, which powers the radar antenna (for communicating back to the main base) and bed (where the crystals are transported). The idea for the generator came from David Roberts' Long Range Transporter.

The Harvester/Loader is able to separate from the front rover section so that it may carry out its functions. It has a chain blade for cutting the crystals, and the claw is then able to grab them.

The Harvester/Loader then deposits the crystals into the bed. The bed is able to tip and dump out the crystals. This set includes three of the important crystals.

Why are crystals so important? They can be processed into various items, such as the valuable "blue cheese."

The first alternate build is of a hover scooter-rover hybrid. Following Classic Space "senseology," it is controlled by the steering wheel. The levers are for the arms, which is a completely different function. It is able to hook up to the bed container and swoosh it away back to home base.

This picture has been added after the contest judging. I realized that some of the parts usage of the first alternate build was not shown that well. In my reply to one of the Davids, I stated that the radar dish was part of the hover/scooter. Here you can see that and how it acts as a hover mechanism. Also shown is the hooked up container. The astronaut is now ready to swoosh back to home base with a full load of crystals.

The second alternate build is of a harvester/surveyor rover. Because it makes perfect sense, the astronaut sits where the collected crystals are deposited.

The astronaut is able to lower this "thingy" with levers operate it, thus operating whatever it does. That is Classic Space logic for you.

By sitting on top of the generator, the ground surveyor is able to be operated. Which is serious business.

Here is the Crystal Harvester in its Classic Space colors.

*Twitch's Remarks*
The build uses 100 pieces. The LDD file will say 104, but that is because the minifig counts as 5 in LDD.
This build came about in several ways. I wanted to use a mech in the build, and thus the Harvester/Loader is based on the ADU Walker since it is a good starting basis. I wanted to make some Classic Space jokes, which is why the first alternate build is controlled by the steering wheel and there are wheels on a scooter. I tried not to use as many newer pieces, hence the arms design and the older-style tipping connections of the bed. The arms ate up a lot of my pieces, so there is more that I would have loved to add to this set. I would have added another minifig, and possibly some extra trailer features. Overall, I am very happy with how this came out.

Quoting Michal Hennel
This buggy is very versatile, as pocket money set should be ... you managed to use your bricks very well with very authentic CS design. Also, color scheme is my favorite part of this. :D

Everything about this MOC is my favorite part. I wanted to do a few more things with this and add another Minifig, but I was already at the 100 piece count and could not justify sacrificing any other pieces.

Quoting David Alexander Smith
The claw arm in light blue feels instantly CS yet fresh and new. Multiple part rovers always work week in my book. Brief met I think. 8 The two alternatives are fun, and show a great part selection. The dish as the vacuum cleaner is a nice multi-use example. 7 That detaching classic claw mech suit, or should that be mech seat, I love it. 8 Not only CS but part of the cheese ranger range. I'm glad they found the precious blue variety. 7

Thank you for your comments, feedback, and critique! Even though the set includes only three crystals, I had to include something about the blue cheese. So that extra picture is just for you.

The claw arm in light blue feels instantly CS yet fresh and new. Multiple part rovers always work week in my book. Brief met I think. 8 The two alternatives are fun, and show a great part selection. The dish as the vacuum cleaner is a nice multi-use example. 7 That detaching classic claw mech suit, or should that be mech seat, I love it. 8 Not only CS but part of the cheese ranger range. I'm glad they found the precious blue variety. 7

Quoting David Roberts
A nice pair of alternate builds. I especially like the hoover! I think that it would have been great if you'd used the parts from the hopper as wings or radars or for some other purpose, 6 Loads of playability here, with the buggy trailer, walker and radar tower too. I'm a bit worried that the walker's hip joints aren't going to stand up to lots of play and its feet might be a bit small to balance out those brilliant, long arms. Great fun nonetheless 7
Total 29

Thank you for the judging! I just now realized that in posing my first alternate build, I totally hid a cool feature. The giant radar dish is sitting underneath the hover scooter, right behind the wheels. The walker should hold up to the weight since it is basically the ADU Walker (which is steady and highly stable within itself, I have it) with the arms and seat added to it.

Great to see another LDD entry in this year's contest. I like how you've used LDD's infinite palette but haven't gone over the top with loads of colours. I like the subtle colours you've used: quite NASA! The vehicle looks great for trundling over the moon. 8 A nice pair of alternate builds. I especially like the hoover! I think that it would have been great if you'd used the parts from the hopper as wings or radars or for some other purpose, 6 Loads of playability here, with the buggy trailer, walker and radar tower too. I'm a bit worried that the walker's hip joints aren't going to stand up to lots of play and its feet might be a bit small to balance out those brilliant, long arms. Great fun nonetheless 7 Lots of chunky wheels and the tractor & trailer arrangement, plus a peaceful, useful purpose give this a high CS factor. 8
Total 29

Quoting Topsy Creatori (StoveTopCreator!)
For some reason I am fascinated by builds with scoops and bins like your harvester. I LIKE it! And the new color blue is one of my favorites. You made some nice alt. builds too. Nice that you let us see it in classic colors... oh, it's definitey classic! :)

Thank you, that means a lot! After I saw how it looked in Classic colors, I knew that I had to share it.

For some reason I am fascinated by builds with scoops and bins like your harvester. I LIKE it! And the new color blue is one of my favorites. You made some nice alt. builds too. Nice that you let us see it in classic colors... oh, it's definitey classic! :)

Quoting Builder Allan
Great little build! I like the brilliant little things like that walker-thing mounted on the front vehicle and the alternative builds. Indeed an all-classic build, though the engine part and round ender-stone weren't around when i was a kid in the late 80's :-) Oh, and thanks for your comment! Sorry to you too, i am notoriously slow in responding to comments myself :-)

I tried to use mainly older pieces that are era-correct, but some newer pieces just seemed to fit. As I stated in my remarks section, the engine piece as a generator was inspired by one of the Davids' builds. I can make piece exceptions as long as the overall feel is not ruined.

Great little build! I like the brilliant little things like that walker-thing mounted on the front vehicle and the alternative builds. Indeed an all-classic build, though the engine part and round ender-stone weren't around when i was a kid in the late 80's :-) Oh, and thanks for your comment! Sorry to you too, i am notoriously slow in responding to comments myself :-)

Close, but not quite the same. I had this built right after the contest started, I just now got around to uploading it. I use an off-white and two shades of blue, whereas yours uses blue, white and gray.